"Leader of the Pack" by the Shangri Las is Number One on the (U.S.) Billboard charts.
Penned by the legendary producer George "Shadow" Morton and released as a single on Red Bird Records, the label of the legendary songwriting duo of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoler ("Jailhouse Rock", "Hound Dog", "Spanish Harlem", etc, etc.), the song shoots to number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
High School girl, Betty, falls for a biker, Jimmy, and causes him to crash. Using her "innocent" seductive powers she gets him to fall in love with her (even though he's a loner and doesn't want to be tied down) then she dumps him because he's from the "wrong side of town". Heartbroken, Jimmy revs up his '55 Harley panhead-bobber ('59 BSA A10 in the UK version), takes off on a rainy evening and, unable to stop (due to crappy mechanical brakes), he hits an on-coming candy delivery truck. One of the classic "teenage tragedy" songs.
Is she really going out with him?
Well, there she is. Let's ask her.
Betty, is that Jimmy's ring you're wearing?
Mm-hmm
Gee, it must be great riding with him
Is he picking you up after school today?
Uh-uh
By the way, where'd you meet him?
I met him at the candy store
He turned around and smiled at me
You get the picture? (yes, we see)
That's when I fell for (the leader of the pack)
My folks were always putting him down (down, down)
They said he came from the wrong side of town
(whatcha mean when ya say that he came from the wrong side of town?)
They told me he was bad
But I knew he was sad
That's why I fell for (the leader of the pack)
One day my dad said, "Find someone new"
I had to tell my Jimmy we're through
(whatcha mean when ya say that ya better go find somebody new?)
He stood there and asked me why
But all I could do was cry
I'm sorry I hurt you (the leader of the pack)
He sort of smiled and kissed me goodbye
The tears were beginning to show
As he drove away on that rainy night
As he drove away on that rainy night
I begged him to go slow
But whether he heard, I'll never know
Look out! Look out! Look out! Look out!
I felt so helpless, what could I do?
Remembering all the things we'd been through
In school they all stop and stare
I can't hide the tears, but I don't care
I'll never forget him (the leader of the pack)
The leader of the pack - now he's gone
The leader of the pack - now he's gone
"Leader..." bits for your enjoyment;
Legend has it that to record the sound of the motorcycle, one was driven through the lobby of the hotel and up to the floor of the recording studio. No one was arrested, but allegedly a ticket was issued. In an interview four decades later, Shangri-Las lead singer Mary Weiss said the motorcycle sound was taken from an effects record.
The Zombies' drummer Hugh Grundy recalls revving up a motorcycle backstage when the Shangri-Las performed on a U.S. tour.
Shadow Morton produced the New York Dolls LP, "Too Much Too Soon".
In the 1982 musical Little Shop of Horrors, Ronette, one of the backup singers, says "Here he is, girls, the Leader of The Plaque" during the song "Dentist". Orin, the dentist, notably rides a motorcycle that sounds similar to that in the song.
Today in motorcycle history proudly supports the National Association for Bikers with a Disability (NABD). www.nabd.org.uk
